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Brexit: MPs lock in Theresa May's promise that commons will have power to veto no-deal

Joe Watts
Political Editor
Wednesday 27 February 2019 20:51 GMT
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Results of vote on Cooper amendment

Theresa May was left no room to back out of her pledge to give the commons a veto over a no-deal Brexit, after MPs voted to make it parliament’s will.

MPs voted by 502 to 20 for a motion locking in the verbal promises given by the prime minister to allow votes on whether to leave the EU without a deal and delay Brexit if her agreed deal is rejected.

The vote was one of several that took place in the commons, with the government also accepting a measure from Conservative MP Alberto Costa to guarantee EU citizens rights in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The vote to cement Ms May’s promises was brought forward by senior Labour frontbencher Yvette Cooper who said on Twitter: “Strong support from every party & from across the government too.

“Shows the support across the House of Commons now for parliamentary safeguards in case we face no deal.”

It comes after Ms May told MPs on Tuesday that if she loses a “meaningful vote” on her revamped deal, due to take place by 12 March, MPs will be offered separate votes on a no-deal Brexit or extending the two-year Article 50 negotiation process beyond 29 March.

Tory MP Mr Costa’s amendment to seek a treaty on citizens’ rights after Brexit was approved without a formal vote.

He welcomed the fact the government had accepted his amendment on EU citizens’ rights, but said the fact it needed to be laid down is a “very sad state of affairs”.

The Tory MP for South Leicestershire, who was forced to resign his government position after tabling the amendment, made veiled comments about the situation, calling himself a “very loyal Conservative member” who has “never rebelled” and “scarcely spoken out of turn”.

Explaining that his alteration to the Brexit motion had a “broad consensus” of MPs behind it including the “leaders of every opposition party and importantly for me the support of honourable members across the Brexit debate on my side of the House, a sensible government must accept a reasonable amendment”.

He said: “My amendment does not deal in goods or services, backstops or borders, but people, living and breathing, skin and bone.”

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